Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 5:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 5:12 p.m.

Elster AMCO Water, one of only five water meter manufacturers in the United States, will close its doors in June, ending its 45-year run in Ocala under numerous names, originally Kent Meters.

Elster AMCO Water President Thomas Gwynn said the 95,000-square-foot facility will close "sometime later in the year," although employees have been told the facility will close June 30. About 200 people will lose their jobs.

Elster AMCO Water was purchased by a British company called Melrose Ltd., last fall. Last year, the company announced it may move some of its meter manufacturing to Mexico.

Gwynn said the current plant has manufactured 7 million water meters in the past decade alone. Gwynn said he could release more about the closing later in the year. Employees were informed early this month.

Next door to the Elster facility on Southwest 38th Avenue, the owner of Meters and Related Services, known as MARS, called the closing big news in the water metering market.

Floyd S. Salser says his MARS company supplies parts and other supplies to the local Elster plant. Salser said his revenues from Elster alone have been $5 million over the years. Salser said he supplies many other companies and should be OK upon its closing.

However, Salser said Elster AMCO Water sold many meters to

incorporated cities around the country. The meters have 15-year warranties, and he said the cities will have no way to replace faulty meters once Elster closes.

"I expect that we could see some pretty nasty lawsuits before all of this is said and done," Salser said.

Elster is one of the world's largest water, gas and electric meter companies, with 7,500 employees in 39 countries. It sells residential, commercial and industrial products in more than 130 countries.

The company originally opened under the name Kent Meters in 1968 near the historic Coca-Cola bottling plant near downtown.

It was launched by Frank A. Bennett.

Salser was one of Kent Meters' first vice presidents and worked for the company from 1970-84.

"I hate to see what is happening over there," Salser said. "It's a shame to see this happening."

News of the closing comes just as the region is beginning to see strong employment growth.

Marion County's unemployment rate for December was down to 8.9 percent, its lowest level since the recession walloped local workplaces in 2008.

"This is the opposite of what we've been seeing locally," said Laura Byrnes, a spokeswoman for Workforce Connection in Ocala. "What we have been seeing is companies coming in and hiring — HealthSouth, Ansafone, Sitel's call center. These are companies that have added 80 to 150 or more employees to the local job market."

Workforce Connection is working with the company to assist its employees who are facing layoffs.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>Elster AMCO Water, one of only five water meter manufacturers in the United States, will close its doors in June, ending its 45-year run in Ocala under numerous names, originally Kent Meters.</p><p>Elster AMCO Water President Thomas Gwynn said the 95,000-square-foot facility will close "sometime later in the year," although employees have been told the facility will close June 30. About 200 people will lose their jobs.</p><p>Elster AMCO Water was purchased by a British company called Melrose Ltd., last fall. Last year, the company announced it may move some of its meter manufacturing to Mexico.</p><p>Gwynn said the current plant has manufactured 7 million water meters in the past decade alone. Gwynn said he could release more about the closing later in the year. Employees were informed early this month.</p><p>Next door to the Elster facility on Southwest 38th Avenue, the owner of Meters and Related Services, known as MARS, called the closing big news in the water metering market.</p><p>Floyd S. Salser says his MARS company supplies parts and other supplies to the local Elster plant. Salser said his revenues from Elster alone have been $5 million over the years. Salser said he supplies many other companies and should be OK upon its closing.</p><p>However, Salser said Elster AMCO Water sold many meters to</p><p>incorporated cities around the country. The meters have 15-year warranties, and he said the cities will have no way to replace faulty meters once Elster closes.</p><p>"I expect that we could see some pretty nasty lawsuits before all of this is said and done," Salser said.</p><p>Elster is one of the world's largest water, gas and electric meter companies, with 7,500 employees in 39 countries. It sells residential, commercial and industrial products in more than 130 countries.</p><p>The company originally opened under the name Kent Meters in 1968 near the historic Coca-Cola bottling plant near downtown.</p><p>It was launched by Frank A. Bennett.</p><p>Salser was one of Kent Meters' first vice presidents and worked for the company from 1970-84.</p><p>"I hate to see what is happening over there," Salser said. "It's a shame to see this happening."</p><p>News of the closing comes just as the region is beginning to see strong employment growth.</p><p>Marion County's unemployment rate for December was down to 8.9 percent, its lowest level since the recession walloped local workplaces in 2008.</p><p>"This is the opposite of what we've been seeing locally," said Laura Byrnes, a spokeswoman for Workforce Connection in Ocala. "What we have been seeing is companies coming in and hiring — HealthSouth, Ansafone, Sitel's call center. These are companies that have added 80 to 150 or more employees to the local job market."</p><p>Workforce Connection is working with the company to assist its employees who are facing layoffs.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>